Why has Middletown's Congressman, Chris Smith, ignored the issue of student loan debt ?
One reason is that Congressman Smith does not live among us and has no idea what it is to be a New Jerseyan. He has not lived in NJ for over 30 years. He does not deny it. Smith raised his family and educated them in Virginia. He even received VIRGINIA IN STATE TUITION.
Must be nice.
In Smith's second term as District 4 Congressman, roughly 1984, he moved full time to Virginia. Even though DC is a short drive to NJ, Smith chose to leave our state and live full time in Virginia. In order to represent NJ as our Congressman, Smith is required to maintain a DOMICILE in the state. For much of his 33 years as Congressman, Smith rented a townhome from a family member in Mercer. In recent election cycles, he was tagged for his living arrangements and it is rumored that he has purchased the property. Smith is said to be in NJ roughly 2 dozen days a year.When Congress goes on recess, other Congressman go to their home states and meet with constituents, Smith goes home to Virginia. He rarely steps foot in the state. District 4 NJ is one of the most under represented districts in the Country. Congressmen represent their districts in DC and collectively Congressman write our laws. We are not being represented properly. Why do we put up with it and how can Smith represent us in Congress when he does not live among us?
Student Debt: Congress Petitioned By College Leaders For 'Long-Term' Solution http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3467087
10 comments:
Very enlightening! Thank you!
Oh please, the real culprit in all of this when the gov't got into the student loan programs coupled with parents who don't instruct and guide their children accordingly. You go to a school that costs 40-50k a year to get a job that doesn't give you the earning potential needed to support the debt. Who is at fault here? Not every kid should go to college and we need more trade schools. Not every kid is equipped to go to college. Let's all send little Johnny to NYU or BC so they can then get a job that pays nothing.
The parents are at fault, the kids are at fault, and the gov't is at fault for supporting it. Stop blaming the rep for your own bad decisions.
First of all I agree with @Anon at 8:14PM
Couple bones to pick with this posting.
1)"Why has Middletown's Congressman, Chris Smith, ignored the issue of student loan debt ?" If you read that Huffington Post article first there were no colleges from NJ that were even petitioning Congress nor did it say they actually petitioned Rep. Smith. So how can you say someone is ignoring someone else when they're not even discussed.
2)a) Smith's Residency - I'm a father. Luckily my job does not require me to travel daily/weekly so I had time to spend with my children as they were growing up. I can't believe you bash an individual whose job requires him to be in a completely different state 2/3 of the year for moving his family to be closer with them. Maybe family doesn't mean much to you District 4 Coalition for Change but it does to a lot of people.
2)b) Your two last paragraphs are just giant rumor mills. Do you have documentation that he "rented from a family member" or is it just gossip you heard at the super market? And even if he did rent a place does that disqualify ALL renters in a congressional district for running for office merely because they do not have the funds to buy/own a home? You literally use phrases like "rumored that" and "said to be" this drivel is just an entire piece of muckraking yellow journalism.
Good day
Joey Bagodonuts
agree 9:27
This article is the usual Huffington Post type nonsense. The problem with America today is critical thinking is gone and too many people can't read between the lines.
What our rep ought to be looking at is the increase in tuition over the past 20yrs and the lack of state aid to our flagship university
You might also ask Frank Pallone where his children live and where they attend school.
Thanks to gerrymandering, our anti abortion rights zealot is not worried about losing his cozy perch in Congress. There are 2 Chris Smiths...people are too apathetic to look beyond the facade. The average student in Smith's district does not qualify for much need based aid as middle class New Jerseyans are deemed affluent by FAFSA. While NJ students get buried in debt for even a state college, Smith is spending his time refighting a war that ended with Roe v, Wade.
again, not his fault
Stop buying more than you can afford and save money for your kids' college education. Educate your kids on the cost of college vs their income, ask the state why they cut funding to Rutgers making tuition that much more expensive.
I could care less about Chris Smith but none of this is his fault so either educate yourself or be honest.
Getting back to the point of this post...No one blames Smith for the cost of state school in NJ, but if Smith sent his kids to NJ colleges rather than Virginia colleges, he might have more understanding of his constituency and their struggles. And if he poked his head inside the state a little more often, he might realize New Jerseyans are struggling with more than student debt.
Many people did save for their children's education, only to have it go POOF in 2008. Takes more than a few years to recoup those kinds of losses.
I presume you meant "couldn't care less about Smith" and not "I could care less" but either way, those of us who inherited Smith in the last redrawing of the NJ legislative map DO care. I am heartened to see that at least someone is paying attention.
You also need to consider that the cost of college has far outpaced what people earn. In fact, public colleges now cost what private colleges cost just a few years ago. Very few people can manage to save enough without taking on debt. The massive debt this generation is taking on will have the effect of an entire generation that cannot afford to buy homes or start families. We need our representatives to take this seriously.
comical to suggest that
how many of our own state legislatures were even educated in the state? c'mon.....
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